Polarity pulsing of triggers



Oct.'2, 1951 R;` c. PAULSEN n' APOLARITY PULSIING OF' TRIGGERS Filed Dec. 29, 1948 AAAAA .mig @QN mmhww Patented Oct. 2, 17951 POLARITY 'PULSING OF 'TRIGGERS Robert C. Paulsen, West Caldwell, N. J., assigner `to ,International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation .of New York Application December 29, 1948, Serial No. 67,883 7 claims. (c1. 25o- 27) This invention ,relates `to control circuits and `more `particularly to a control circuit for apply- .ing from a pulse source `of dual polarity .to a

trigger circuit or other switchable circuit, pulses of controlled amplitude and unitary polarity.

Trigger circuits employing two grid controlled tubes each with its plate connected to the control grid of the other tube have two electrical `conditions of stability ,alternately assumed. `These conditions are represented `by one tube 'being conductive and the other `non-conductive =and vice-versa.

conduction through the initially conducting tube, `a positive pulse appears at the control grid of lthe initially non-conducting tube and overwhelms this negative switching pulse. This action `causes conduction through Ythis initially non-conducting tube and also causes a negative 'pulse to appear at the control grid of the tube that was initially conductive to render it less conductive. Finally, this change and transfer of circuit `potentials renders the initially conductive tube non-conductive and the initially non- Aconductive tube conductive thereby switching 'the stable condition of the trigger.

The negative switching pulse applied to the control gridof the initially non-conductive 'tube produces no effect thereon that aids in switching the stable condition of the trigger and even opposes that switching, since its polarity is opposite to that of the pulse, transferred to this ycontrol grid from the initially conducting tube.

It is seen that if the amplitude of the negative switching pulses at ,the control grid of the initially non-conductive tube is of such value that it will not be overwhelmed by the positive pulse transferred from the plate of the initially conducting tube to this control grid, the trigger will not switch and trigger failure results. Providing switching pulses of just suiiicient amplitude to. insure switching of the .trigger by the 'negative pulses is further complicated by the fact that rpositive pulses, `of slightly greater amplitude than that required of negative pulses to eiiect switching are of sulicient amplitude tofeiect switching of the trigger. Hence, if the amplitude of the pulses is too great the trigger -will switch in resp-onse to both positive and negative pulses applied to the control grids of `the tubes ci the trigger instead of in response to negative pulses only.

Itis therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate the above mentioned shortcomings of the prior art involved in switching a trigger circuit in response to a train of alternately positive `and negative pulses.

,Another `object is to provide a control circuit. operable only in response to pulses of one polarity, for supplying a pulse of the opposite lpolarity and `of limited amplitude alternately to the tubes of a trigger employing a pair of grid controlled tubes. l

Still another object is to provide a control circuit operable in response to negative pulses and `connected to a trigger having two stable conditions and employing a pair of grid controlled tubes, for supplying and rendering the `trigger responsive to positive pulses applied thereto by this-control circuit.

A. further object is to provide a circuit for determining the stablev condition of a trigger employing a pair of alternately conductive grid controlled tubes, which circuit supplies, simulf-taneously, positive and negative pulses, respectively, to` the non-conductive and conductive tubes of the trigger.

A further object is to provide a control circuit `for a trigger having two conditions and switch- `able under control .of said trigger from either conditionto Vtlfieother, in response to negative pulses, to thereby supply positive pulses to each of two elements of the trigger, alternately.

A still further object is to provide, connections .between Atwo circuits, each having two interconnected Arid controlled tubes androne switchable from either of two stable conditions upon :application of' negative pulses to the control grids of the tubes of the other, said one `circuit also .speeding `up the action of the other and said yone `circuit rendering the other circuit substantially non-responsive to positive pulses.

A still further objectis to provide a trigger Acontrol circuit and a trigger having higher operating speed when inter-connected than that of either Vwhen separately operated.

Other objects of` the `invention will be pointed out in the following description .and claims and' yillustrated in the ,accompanying drawing, which discloses, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

The single iigure of the drawing is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the novel trigger control circuit comprises two 6SJ7 pentodes I0 and II while the trigger, to be controlled, comprises two 6SN7 triodes I2 and I3.

The cathodes of the pentodes I and II are connected to a zero volt line I4 and the control grids are connected together by a conductor I5 which is connected through a 100,000 ohm resistor I6 to the line I4. The plates of pentodes I0 and II are connected to a plus 150 volt line I1 through load resistors I8 and I9, respectively, each of 100,000 ohms. The plate of pentode I0 is connected to the suppressor grid of :pentode II through a conductor and a capacitor 2I of 0.00005 microfarad and this plate is directly and conductively connected to the screen grid 'of pentode II through the conductor 20 and a conductor 22. Likewise, the plate of pentode II is connected to the suppressor grid of pentode f I0 through a conductor 23 and a capacitor 24 of 0.00005 microfarad and this plate is directly and conductively connected to the screen grid of pentode I0 through the conductor 23 and a conductor 25. Since only one pentode is conductive at a time; 'when pentode I0 is non-conductive, its screen which is connected directly to the plate of the .conducting tube II is lowered in voltage, the screen grid of pentode I I being at a high voltage because of its connection to the plate of this non-conducting pentode I II. Because of a similar action when pentode II is non-conductive, its screen grid voltage is low and the screen grid voltage of the conducting pentode I0 is high.

One of the input terminals 26 is connected by a Aconductor 26a and a capacitor 21 of 0.00004 microfarad to conductor I5, connecting the two control grids of the pentodes. vThe cathodes of triodes I2 and I3 comprising the trigger are connected to the zero volt lineV lI4. The plate of triode I2'is connected through a conductor 28 and a load resistor 29 of 20,000 ohms to the plus 150 volt line l1 while the plate of triode I3 is connected through a conductor 28a and a resistor 30 of 20,000 ohms to the plus '150 volt line I1. Conductor 23 Valso connects the plate of triode I2 to the upper end'of a voltage Ydivider consisting of resistors 3I and 32 each of 200,000 ohms. The lower end of this voltage divider is connected to a minus 93 volt bias line 33. A capacitor 34 of 0.000024 microfaradV shunts the resistor 3|.

Similarly, conductor 28a also connects the 'plate' of triode I3 to the upper end of a voltage divider consisting of resistors 36 and 31 each of 200,000 ohms. The lower end of this divider Yis connected to the minus 93 volt bias line 33. A capacitor 38 of 0.000024 microfarad shunts the resistor 36.

' The control grid of triode I2 is connected to the lower junction of the resistor 36'and the capacitor 38 Vand 'is also conductively connected 4via a conductor 39 to the suppressor grid of 'pentode' I0. The control grid of triode I3 is conrected to the lower junction of the resistor 3| and the capacitor 34 and is alsol conductively 4 connected via a conductor 40 to the suppressor Vgrid of pentode II. A train of alternately positive and negative pulses is appliedV to input terminals 26 to determine the condition of the trigger control circuit comprising the pentodes I0 and I I which in turn control the stable condition of the trigger comprising the triodes I2 and I3. In point of time, the negative pulses are designated as aI and a2 and the positive pulses as bl and b2. The trigger is of the well-known binary type employing two grid controlled triodes inter-connected so that pulses of predetermined amplitude and polarity applied simultaneously to the control grids of the triodes cause the trigger to assume alternately each of its two stable conditions. As will be understood from the above description and the explanation hereinafter, the stable condition of the trigger is determined by positive pulses received from the trigger control circuit, a positive pulse being applied only to the appropriate tube to switch the stable condition of the trigger.

For the purposes of explanation, the trigger is assumed to be off at starting, as shown, this condition being thatV in which triode I3 is conductive and triode I2 is biased to cutoi and,

therefore, non-conductive. The dot to'the right of triode'I3 indicates that it is conducting and that the trigger is off.

When a rst positive pulse of proper amplitude received from the trigger control circuit is applied to the control grid of triode I2, this grid is rendered suiiciently positive to start conduction through this triode to thereby decrease the voltage at its plate. This decreased voltage is transferred through the parallel connected capacitor 34 and resistor 3I to the control grid of triode I3 to render it less positive and thus decrease the conduction through triode I3. The resulting increased voltage at the plate of the triode I3 is transferred through the paralle1 connected capacitor V38 and resistor 36 to the control grid of' triode I2 to render it still more conductive. This well-known accumulative action continues until triode I 3 becomes non-conductive and triode I2 becomes conductive, thereby placing the trigger in the on condition.

In a similar manner the second positive pulse, which is applied to the control grid of triode I3, renders it conductive and triode I2 non-conductive, to return the trigger to the off condition.

- At'starting, pentode II is assumed to be conducting as shown by the dot to the lower right side thereof and the pentode I0 is therefore assumed to be non-conductive. Negative pulses applied to the terminals 2S cause the trigger control circuit to switch the trigger alternately When the first negative pulse, al, is applied across terminals 26, a corresponding negative voltage is applied to the control grids of both Since pentode I0 is nonsuppressor grid, this negative voltage applied to its control grid causes no change in its status. The negative pulse al when applied to the control grid of the conducting pentode II, however, causes a'decrease in conduction through this pentode and a corresponding increased Vvoltage at its plate. This increased voltage is transferred over the conductor 23 and the capacitor A24 to' the suppressor grid of pentodeY I0 and via conductors 23 and 25 to its screen grid, to render it conductive. The resulting decreased voltage at its plate istransferred over the conductor 20 and capacitor 2| to the suppressor grid of pentode II and via conductors 20 and 22 to the screen grid of this pentode so that it is rendered less con-V up to a speed of 190'kilocycles. yas'shown in thedrawing and operated through ductive and the increased plate voltage, transferred `to rpentode I `renders it more conductive, rand this in turn causes pentode II to become less conductive. Finally, the cumulative action causes pentode I0 `tobe rendered conductive and pentode II I non-conductive while the trigger itself is in one stable condition.

In a similar manner `the second negative pulse, a2, acts on .this control circuit in conjunction with the trigger itself so that their conjoint action reverses the conductive and non-conduc- -tive conditions of the pentodes While the trigger, per se, is in its other stable condition. Succeeding negative pulses repeat the above operation.

The trigger circuit and the trigger control circuit are inter-connected by the conductors 39 and Il to permit each circuit to facilitate the operation of the other. As a result-of this mutual inter-action, the capacitors 34 and 38 associated with the trigger' circuit are of smaller value than would be possible if the trigger was operated directly by the pulses applied to the terminals 26 andthe speed of trigger operation is correspond- "ingly increased.

The novel cooperation of each circuit with the 1 other, subsequent to the application of a negative pulse to the terminals 26 will be made clear by a ydescription of the transfer of voltages vfrom each circuit to the other. Each of these voltages,

as will be seen, is of `such polarity that it contributes to a switching of the stable condition of the circuit to which it is transferred.

When the negative pulse, al, is applied, as

stated above, to the control grids of pentodes I0 and the trigger control circuit begins to assume one condition, as previously explained. When the plateof pentode I I becomes more positive, a positive pulse is transferred through the conductor 23, capacitor 24 and conductor 39 to the control grid of the non-conducting triode I2 to render it conductive. When the plate of pentode II becomes less positive, a negative pulse is transferred through the conductor 20, capacitor 2| and conductor MI `to the control grid ofthe `conducting-triode I3 to render -it less conductive.

This effect is combined with that of the negative pulse transferred from the plate'of triode I2 and hence reduces the time required to place the control grid of the triode I3 `at cutoff potential.

In a like manner, the positive pulse transferred from the control circuit over the conductor 39 t0 the grid of triode I2 is combined with the positive pulse transferred from the plate of triode I3 and reduces the time required to place triode I2 in a stable state of conduction. The fact that a plu- 'rality of pulses tending to switch the stable condition of the trigger are applied directly to the control grids of triodes I2 `and VAI3 bythe control circuit over the conductors A39 and 4B; respectively,

each time the stable condition of the trigger is to be switched, lessons the amount of voltage required to be transferred through the parallel connected resistor 3| and capacitor 34 and the parallel connected resistor 36 and capacitor 38, of the trigger itself.

Ifthe trigger as specifically disclosed with the values of components given, solely as an example, was operated directly by the pulse Source, capacitors 34 and 38 Vwould each be required to be of 0.00012 microfarad to obtain triggerl operation When connected the trigger control circuit, the capacitors 34 and 38 are each reduced to 0.000024 microfarad and `the trigger canbe operated up to a speed of 270 kilocycles. In other words, the novel combina.- tion produces a faster operating trigger in which smaller value and cheaper .capacitors are utilized.

It has been shown that the control circuit starts the switching of the .trigger circuit from .either stable condition `and further facilitates it until the control circuit has assumed its other stable condition. The substantial increase yin the trisger speed is also aided by the )increased speed A0f the switching of the control circuit because of the transfer of pulses to it from the trigger While the trigger is being switched.

When the negative pulse from the plate of .pentode I0 is transferred over the Aconductor 40 to the control grid of triode I3 and combined with the negative pulse from the plate of triode I2, this grid is made more negative. This morenegative voltage is in turn transferred over conductor tu to the suppressor grid of pentode I I to render it more negative to cause a corresponding decrease in the conduction of this 'pentoda This vsame negative voltage is also transferred .through the capacitor 2| and the conductor 20 to theiplate of pentode ID to render it more negative to lthus speed up the reversing actionof the control cir-v cuit.

In a similar manner the combining of positive pulses on the control grid of triode I2 results in a more positive voltage being applied over conductor 39 to the suppressor grid of pentode .I0 Lto render it more conductive and to the `plate of pentode I to thus speed up the Areversingaction of the control circuit. Hence, as la result vof the transfer of voltages from the ltrigger to the trigger control circuit, due to the switching action of the trigger, the reversal of the control circuit is speeded up. Finally, the trigger is switched to the on" condition under control of the control circuit.

When the positive pulse b| is appliedto the control grids of pentod-es I0 and I, it does not produce conduction in Apentode II, -since this pentode is held at cutoff by the negative potential applied to its suppressor grid over the conductor 4e as described above. This plus pulse bl however causes a small increase inthe conduction of pentode ID. The resulting negative pulse at its plate is Vtransferred via the conductor 2D, capacitor `2I and conductor Mirto the control grid of triode I3. Since its control grid fis already at cutoff, the conduction of `the triode I3 is unaffected and this positive pulse b1 has `no further effect on the trigger or control circuit.

When the next negative pulse, a2, is applied to the control grids of pentodes `lil and I interaction between the `trigger and trigger control circuit, similar to the inter-action resulting from the application of the negative pulse aI, switches the trigger off, as illustrated.

Next, the positive pulse b2 is applied to the control grids of pentodes I0 and II and since as stated above the positive pulse b`| hadno eifect on the conditions of the trigger or trigger control circuit, the positive pulse b2 also causes no change in the status of pentode I0, and the slight increase in the conduction of pentode |I with the consequent application of a negative pulseto the control grid of triode I2 has no effect thereon since it is held at cutoff by the conducting triode I3.

Conventional output connections may be connected to desired places in the trigger circuit'to operate any suitable device in response to `the trigger such as, for example, a counter or the like. No output connection is shown or described sinceY its location is a question of choice depend# ent solely upon the particular result desired.

While there havebeen shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the inventionsas applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and detailsof the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit of the invntion. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.-

What is claimed is:

, '1. A trigger control circuit having two grid controlled pentodes each operable to a conductive and to a non-conductive condition, connections fromV the plate of each pentode to the screen grid of the other and capacitive connections from` the plate of each pentode to the suppressor grid of the other, connections between `the control grids of the pentodes for receiving pulses of opposite polarities to be applied simultaneously to the control grids, a connection from each of the suppressor grids to a tube of a trigger circuit for rendering the trigger circuit responsive to a switching of the control circuit and also A'rendering' the control circuit knon-responsive to pulses of one polarity applied to its control grids.

`ll 2. A trigger control circuit having two grid controlled pentodes each operable to a conductive and to a non-conductive condition, connec- .tions from the plate of each pentode to the y.screen grid of the otherand capacitive connec- -tions-from the plate of each pentode to the suppressor grid of theV other, connections between Ithe control grids of the pentodes for receiving -pulses to be applied simultaneously thereto, a trigger circuit having two grid controlled tubes 4veach alternately conductive and non-conductive and vice-Versa to represent two stable conditions .and switchable from one of said conditions to the other, a connection from the suppressor grid of one pentode to the control grid of one tube of said trigger circuit and a connection from the suppressor grid of the other pentode to the control grid of the other tube of said trigger circuit, `said connections from said suppressor grids serving to transfer a voltage for switching said trigger-circuit from either stable condition in response to positive pulses resulting from operation of said trigger control circuit by negative 'pulses applied to the control grids of said Y ond tube of said control circuit to the control grid of the rst tube of said trigger circuit and a second coupling connection from the rst tube of the control circuit to the second tube of the Vtrigger circuit, a conductive connection between each tube of said control circuit and its corresponding tube in said trigger circuit, said couplings permitting transfer of voltages between the tubes of the control circuit and the control grids of the corresponding tubes of the trigger circuit and said conductive connections permitting transfer of voltages between the control grids of the tubes of the trigger circuit and the tubes oisaid control circuit sov that switching of said trigger circuit from a stable condition aids in changing the conductive 4condition of the tubes of the control circuit, and a reversal of the conductive conditions of the tubes of the control circuit aids in changing the conductive condition of the tubes of the trigger circuit, the tubes joined by said connections changing from the conducting to the non-conducting condition and vice-versa substantially simultaneously.

4. In a., circuit including a trigger circuit and a trigger control circuit each having two tubes, the tubes of said trigger being alternately conductive and non-conductive and vice-versa to represent two stable conditions, a grid in each tube of said control circuit, said trigger control circuit serving to switch the stable condition' of said trigger circuit each time the control circuit is operated, and conductive connections respectively `from the tubes of the trigger circuit to aV grid of the tubes of the control circuit for applying a positive voltage to one tube of the control circuit and a negative voltage to the other tube of the control circuit to prevent cperation of the control circuit in response to operating pulses of positive polarity applied thereto.

5. A circuit including a trigger circuit having two grid controlled tubes alternately conductive and non-conductive and vice-versa to represent two stable conditions determined in accordance with the operated condition of a control circuit arranged to apply a positive pulse to the control grid of the non-conducting tube of the trigger circuit and a negative pulse to the control grid of the conducting tube of the trigger and a parallel connected resistive-capacitive circuit joining the plate of eachtube of the trigger circuit to the control grid of the other tube thereof, said resistive-capacitive circuit serving to trans- Vfer the voltage change at the plate of each tube of the trigger to the control grid of the other tube to augment the effect of the pulsesstransferred from the control circuit to the control grids of the trigger circuit, said resistive-capacitive circuits having a smaller time constant and said trigger circuit having a higher operating speed than is possible when said trigger circuit is operated directly by a train of pulses, and

`means for conveying a train of pulses to the control circuit.

6. An electronic trigger circuit having two grid control tubes and two stable conditions alter- Vnately assumed in response to pulses and per se one operating speed, two electron tubes each having one electrode conductively connected to Vbe in parallel with one electrode of a different one of said two grid control tubes, electrical Ymeans for applying pulses to said two electron ymeans for applying operating pulses to the con- Vtrol grids of said electronic tubes, and electrical current transferring means interconnecting a grid of each of said trigger tubes with only one grid of each of said electronic tubes whereby the operation of one pair of tubes increases the speed of operation of the other pair of tubes to an operating speed in excess of said one operating speed.

ROBERT C. PAULSEN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kahn Jan. 20, 1942 Number 10 Number Name Date 2,289,987 Norton July 14, 1942 2,412,467 Morton Dec. 10, 1946 2,416,513 Brown Feb. 25, 1947 2,418,112 DeRosa Apr. 1, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 563,794 Great Britain Sept. 1944 OTHER REFERENCES Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 10, June 1939, Switching Action of the Eccles-Jordan Trigger Circuit, by Toomim, pages 191 and 192. 

